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Europe trip. Help building itinerary

Hello. I have book a 40 day trip to Europe that will begin in Istanbul and end in Amsterdam. What I will see along the way remains to be planned. I have about $3500 I wish to spend, but willing to go as high as $4000. I want to live cheaply, and have some family that I can visit and stay with here and there.

I will be in Istanbul for about 6 days, and then headed to Rome, and then head north, maybe visit Venice (have family). From there I wish to go to Germany, see perhaps Munich and Berlin, and then move to Amsterdam.

For those who have made similar trips:
1) What are recommended forms of transport that are easiest?
2) How long were these commutes?
3) Advice on living cheaply, and what to see?

40 days $3500 (or even $4000) is a VERY low budget. At $3500 you are talking $87.50/€63 per day. Now sure, some days you will spend next to nothing (when staying w/ family, eating for free and not visiting any sites). But other days you will spend more than your whole day's budget just on transport . . . no food, no lodging, no admissions fees.

At the top of your budget you have $100/€72 per day which is a bit more doable -- if you couch surf. But even staying in hostels + the few places you seem to have family accommodations you budget is low. Why not go for a shorter length of time, to fewer places, so you can actually afford to enjoy yourself (or save up more $$)

I am thinking about upping it to $4500. I'm looking at the cheapest possible hostels available (like $20/night), and have no frills approach. I plan on purchasing my transport ahead of time,and am considering upping it to $4500. Would that sound more doable?

Is the airfare included in this budget or is it on top of the budget? $3500 including airfare to and fro europe - I can't imagine is doable.

Also - intraeuropean transport can take a big bite out of the budget. If you will be moving every day or 2 you need to set aside a significant amount for train fare - even if you prepurchase lowest fares 90 days out.

With this budget you will have no shopping, no nightlife and lots and lots of picnic meals.

I would start searching out specific hostels and also major sights - to get an idea of how far your budget will have to stretch.

except for Istanbul - you should fly to Rome from there - the rest is best by train - cars are useless in many cities and places like Rome, Florence and obviously Venice restrict private vehicles from city centres. You are traveling enough to take a look at some kind of railpass - check the following sites for lots of great info on European trains: www.seat61.com; www.budgeteuropetravel.com and www.ricksteves.com.

You can often take overnight trains to save time and money in a hotel - there are hundreds rolling all over Europe every night.

40 days - $4,500 is $110 dollars a day. To realize that you'll have to stay in very low-budget hotels or hostels - eat out of supermarkets - a railpass can help figure out the travel expenses costs and with such a wide-ranging trip may be the best deal.

Overnight trains can save on hotel costs and time. Try to stay with relatives longer than you planned.

$4500 is doable but on a shoestring budget - cofees can cost $4-5 a cup so those things much be limited.

Avoid expensive places like Switzerland or limit time there - actually all of Europe is expensive to me - meals at proper restaurants lots more than here, etc. It can be done but you'll have to work hard at it.

>>>I'm looking at the cheapest possible hostels available (like $20/night)<<<

You won't find hostels at $20 a night. That is only 14€. You might find a convent or two in Rome (not central) for 20-25€ a night (shared dorm and bathroom down the hall). Often convents have curfews and no amenities.

$30 a day means you at least can eat a few times in real restaurants and don't have to couch surf as much. $40 a day gives you a little more 'wiggle room'. It will still be semi bare budget, but a LOT easier/better IMO.

Large cities like London and Paris etc are significantly more expensive than smaller cities and it depends greatly also on the season you go - I can get a nice enough B&B in Rome or Florence in winter for $50 - the same room in the tourist season can cost twice as much and may not even be available. Off-season can also see lower and more available air fares.

Could you stay with your family in Venice for most of the time and do day/weekend trips out of there? Munich, Innsbruck, and Salzburg are not that far, and all of the cities in the Po Valley are interesting and can be reached--you could go as far south as Florence for a weekend.

I am planning for the month of June. I am basically quitting my job at the end of May, and starting law school in August. Was planning to go in July originally, but my friend decided he was going to make his wedding then.

"Could you stay with your family in Venice for most of the time and do day/weekend trips out of there?"

I have a cousin in Rome, but I don't know how long I can stay with her. I can probably stay with family in Venice (they live in a small town, Trevizo), and I have a family friend in Dresden who invited me to stay at her place. I have friends in Istanbul, but they did not seem very accommodating when I told them I was coming. I found a place in Istanbul for 175 for 9 days.

Yes, you can get a bed in a dormitory style room at hostels for $US 20 per night. There aren't too many at that price and they might not be central, but they exist. If you can splurge and go up to $US 25 there are more options. At $30 US you should be able to find something even in Rome, even something central.

Besure to scrutinize Rome 'ostellos' around the train station - I ended up in one that was a real dirty flop house - beds hardly fit for sleeping in - doors that would not lock, etc. Do not book any Rome station hostel blindly IMO - especially if there is a low low price.